Do you know the difference between Queen Anne’s Lace vs. poison hemlock plants? If you enjoy harvesting wildflowers, this is something you’ll want to know

Water Hemlock (Cicuta virosa), is a highly poisonous plant that closely resembles Queen Anne’s Lace, (Daucus carota). Then there’s the plant known as poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), making it important to understand the differences and similarities between each of these.

Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota) vs. Water Hemlock (Cicuta virosa)

Similarities Between Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota) and Water Hemlock (Cicuta virosa)

• Appearance: Both plants are characterized by clusters of small, white flowers that form umbrella-like shapes, also known as umbels.
• Habitat: Both plants often grow in the same environments, including meadows, fields, and along roadsides and riverbanks.
• Growth Form: Both plants are herbaceous, and can reach similar heights.

Differences Between Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota) and Water Hemlock (Cicuta virosa)

• Root Structure and Smell: Queen Anne’s Lace has a single, elongated taproot that is similar to a carrot in appearance odor and taste. Water Hemlock, however, has a cluster of tuberous roots, and if broken, gives off an unpleasant odor.
• Leaf Structure: The leaves of Queen Anne’s Lace are fine and feathery, closely resembling those of a garden carrot. Water Hemlock leaves, on the other hand, are wider and serrated.
• Flower Structure: The flower cluster of Queen Anne’s Lace often has a solitary dark flower (that looks more like a dot) in the center. Water Hemlock does not have this feature. Also, Queen Anne’s Lace flowers fold up into a nest-like shape as they fade, whereas Water Hemlock’s flowers do not.
• Stem Structure: Queen Anne’s Lace has hairy stems, whereas Water Hemlock stems are smooth and often have purple striping or spots.
• Toxicity: While Queen Anne’s Lace is safe to touch and its roots are edible when young (but always with caution), all parts of the Water Hemlock plant are highly toxic and ingestion can be fatal.

Always exercise caution when identifying and handling plants in the wild. If you’re uncertain about the plant’s identity, it’s best to leave it undisturbed.

Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota) & Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum)

Water Hemlock (Cicuta virosa) and Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum) are different plants, both of which are highly toxic. They do share similarities with Queen Anne’s Lace but also have distinguishing features.

Yes, Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum) is another plant that closely resembles Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota) and can indeed be mistaken for it due to some similar characteristics. Here are the similarities and differences between these two species:

Similarities Between Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota) and Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum)

• Appearance: Both plants bear clusters of small, white flowers that form umbrella-like shapes, or umbels.
• Habitat: Both plants can often be found in similar environments, including meadows, fields, and along roadsides and riverbanks.

Differences Between Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota) and Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum)

• Root Structure and Smell: Queen Anne’s Lace has a single, elongated taproot that smells like a carrot when crushed. Poison Hemlock has a white, fleshy taproot that does not have a carroty smell.
• Leaf Structure: The leaves of Queen Anne’s Lace are finely divided and fern-like. In contrast, Poison Hemlock has lacy leaves as well, but they are much larger and have a different overall shape, appearing more triangular in form.
• Flower Structure: The flower cluster of Queen Anne’s Lace often has a solitary reddish-purple flower (or dot) in the center. Poison Hemlock does not have this feature.
• Stem Structure: Queen Anne’s Lace stems are hairy, while Poison Hemlock stems are smooth and hollow, with characteristic reddish-purple spots or blotches.
• Toxicity: All parts of the Poison Hemlock plant are extremely toxic, and ingestion can be deadly. Queen Anne’s Lace, while resembling the toxic plant, is generally safe to touch, and the roots of young plants can be safely consumed with proper identification.

Again, the importance of correctly identifying these plants cannot be overstated, especially given the deadly nature of Poison Hemlock. Always consult with a local expert or a reliable, detailed field guide if you’re unsure, and when in doubt, do not touch or consume the plant.

Queen Anne’s Lace vs. Poison Hemlock Comparison Chart

Characteristic	Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota)	Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum)
Flower Cluster	Umbel of small, white flowers, often with a solitary reddish-purple flower in the center	Umbel of small, white flowers
Habitat	Meadows, fields, roadsides, riverbanks	Meadows, fields, roadsides, riverbanks
Root Structure & Smell	Single, elongated taproot, smells like a carrot when crushed	White, fleshy taproot, does not have a carroty smell
Leaf Structure	Finely divided, fern-like	Lacy, much larger, more triangular in form
Stem Structure	Hairy	Smooth and hollow, with reddish-purple spots or blotches
Toxicity	Safe to touch, roots of young plants can be eaten with proper identification	Highly toxic, all parts of the plant can be deadly if ingested

Queen Anne’s Lace vs. Water Hemlock Comparison Chart

Characteristic	Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota)	Water Hemlock (Cicuta virosa)
Flower Cluster	Umbel of small, white flowers, often with a solitary reddish-purple flower in the center	Umbel of small, white flowers
Habitat	Meadows, fields, roadsides, riverbanks	Meadows, fields, roadsides, riverbanks
Root Structure & Smell	Single, elongated taproot, smells like a carrot when crushed	Cluster of tuberous, branching roots, strong, unpleasant smell when cut
Leaf Structure	Finely divided, fern-like	Finely divided, thicker, leaflets are more serrated
Stem Structure	Hairy	Smooth, stout, hollow, typically branched
Toxicity	Safe to touch, roots of young plants can be eaten with proper identification	Highly toxic, all parts of the plant can be deadly if ingested

Please keep in mind that this is a simplification and doesn’t include all characteristics of each plant. Also, always consult with a local expert or a detailed field guide for accurate plant identification.